42nd int’l hand-knitted carpets exhibition opens

LAHORE, Oct 06 (APP):Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Faiz Ahmed Chadhar inaugurated the 42nd International Exhibition of Hand-Knitted Carpets organized by Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMA) at a local hotel on Tuesday.

A large number of international buyers from different countries including the US, Germany, Turkey, China, Russia and Sweden have arrived in Pakistan to participate in the three-day international exhibition.

On this occasion, Director Textile and Leather Arifullah, PCMEA Patron-in-Chief Abdul Latif Malik, Senior Vice Chairman Northern Zone Khawaja Mir Mudassar, Vice Chairman Nadeem Sajid, Chairman Exhibition Muhammad Riaz, Chairperson Carpet Training Institute Ijazur Rahman, Former Chairman Mian Atiqur Rahman, Senior Members Usman Ashraf, Major (R) Akhtar Nazir, Saeed Khan, Kamran Razi, Faisal Saeed Khan, Mrs. Iskanderin Hassan, Regional Chairman FPCCI Zaki Ijaz and Vice President Lahore Chamber Khadim Hussain were also present.

TDAP Chief Faiz Ahmed Chadhar took a round of stalls set up at the international exhibition in detail and expressed deep interest in the high quality and beautifully designed handmade carpet products and praised the skill of Pakistani artisans.

Addressing foreign buyers and industry representatives, he said that due to their high quality and beautiful designs, Pakistani handmade carpet products have a unique identity all over the world. There is a lot of potential in this industry which can be utilized to further increase exports and all kinds of cooperation are being provided for this and it will be further increased.

He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had expressed his determination that the foundation of the country’s economy will be built on the promotion of exports, for which all possible facilities and cooperation are being provided to the export industries.

He said that he is aware of the challenges faced by the industry. Visa issues have also been identified here, and full efforts are being made to resolve them as soon as possible.

He said that this industry has to move towards innovation, the gap between the public sector and the private sector should be bridged, every dollar is very valuable for Pakistan, therefore, special priority is being given to the promotion of exports.

Senior Vice Chairman Khawaja Mir Mudassar and Chairman Exhibition Riaz Ahmed welcomed the participants and said that a large number of foreign buyer representatives from different countries have participated in the exhibition. “We are hopeful that the large-scale export deals in the global exhibition will strengthen this industry. The way foreign buyers have shown interest in Pakistani products has boosted our morale,” he added.

A stall of carpet products made by prisoners of Punjab prisons was also set up in the exhibition.